Sunday 12 August 2012

Arsenal FC transfer round-up

Welcome to The Loose Cannon, or WTF as some rude cyber warrior would rather call it. Now I know how Arsene Wenger must feel when he gets stick! Serves me right, I suppose for being so critical of his team and transfer policy. However, I don't feel so critical this season as we've already bought wisely and it looks like we may continue to do so.

Everyone is asking the latest about Nuri Sahin and his prospective loan move from Real Madrid. It seems that there are a number of other clubs in the hunt for the Turkey international, and Arsenal appear to still be in pole position. Yet if Manchester United come calling, it's hardly a foregone conclusion that he will move to the Emirates Stadium. AC Milan and Liverpool are also reportedly interested. Spurs, apparently, made an approach but it was rejected by Sahin.

Another player we could be signing is Malaga's Isco. Spanish club are ready to sell all and sundry and by all accounts we could do a lot worse than sign this winger for £8 million, especially as the Walcott is continuing to be linked with a move away to his boyhood favourites, Liverpool. For that would be "one in one out", if it comes to pass.

Something similar could happen with the Alex Song situation. Barcelona clearly want the player, as otherwise why would some many of their footballing stars come out and say that they want him? If Song does go for £20 million, which would make him about £8 million overpriced in my book, then most of the media are claiming we would sign Yann M'Vila to replace him. This is a little strange given that Arsene Wenger has denied being interested in the France international. Then again, he said something similar about five months before signing Andrey Arshavin, but some Arsenal fans have pointed out the Russian may been foisted upon him by the board of directors. I can't believe that Wenger is not in control of team affairs, which would include selection of players to join his squad, but anything's possible in the world of football.

Other players leaving the club include Nicklas Bendtner, who could be about to sign for AC Milan, according to the Corriere dello Sport. Interestingly, the paper goes on to say we will receive cash plus long-term Arsenal transfer target Philippe Mexes, who is reportedly earning €4.5 million per year. France international is now 30 years of age, which is normally a bit too old for Arsene Wenger's liking, so this still sounds like pure paper talk to me.

One deal that is incredibly more likely is that taking Carlos Vela to Real Sociedad. In fact it's so likely that it is a done deal! Finally the club have confirmed that it's happened, about a month or so after we read in the newspapers, and once again the transfer fee is undisclosed.

One transfer fee that won't be undisclosed perhaps is the amount Arsenal receive for Robin van Persie, should he leave. Manchester United are going to have to pay £20 million or he will be going nowhere, it seems. However, Manchester City and Juventus haven't given up the chase complete yet, no matter what Roberto Mancini says to the contrary.

I'm not quite sure why the media claim that Alex Ferguson missed Manchester United's Hanover victory on Saturday night to close a deal to sign Robin van Persie and then next thing you know is the want-away Dutchman is playing in a friendly in Cologne. Surely it would make more sense for Fergie to just wait until that match was over and then approach him.

There is still the school of thought that believe van Persie. Like Wayne Rooney's transfer request, it the Dutchman's refusal to sign a new deal could just be a cry for help. I'm not sure I buy into this theory completely but it remains a possibility. After signing three quality players in this transfer window it's about time the U-turn happened. As if it doesn't soon, we can kiss hopes of van Persie staying goodbye.

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